TORONTO — Toronto police are trying to determine whether three sexual assaults that occurred over the long weekend are linked to a string of similar incidents in previous months.

Police say three women reported being sexually assaulted in separate incidents (near Christie Pits park) in the city’s west end, two of them on Saturday night and one Sunday night.

In each case, the victims were attacked from behind by a man described as black and heavy-set.

Det. Sue Kernohan told a news conference Tuesday that the weekend incidents appear to follow the same pattern as up to 10 sexual assaults that took place in the area this summer.

But she said police are not yet able to confirm a connection.

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The National Post’s Graeme McNaughton spoke with Toronto Police Tuesday to find out more on what we know about the assaults. Q Where and when have the assaults occurred?A Mostly in the area of Bloor and Christie streets, around Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood. All of the attacks have taken place at night, mostly between 10 p.m. and midnight, during the months of August and October. Police initially suggested two other sexual assaults in July around College Street and Spadina Avenue might have been linked to the August attacks, but investigators now say that is not the case. Q What is the nature of the attacks?A Police would not disclose details on the types of sexual assaults, but the two attacks this past Saturday were minutes apart. Each assault has been carried out in a similar fashion, with the suspect approaching the victims from behind before assaulting them and running off, police say. The attacks have not increased in severity, but escalation “is always a possibility,” Det. Sue Kernohan said. “We are concerned about that.” Q Are police seeking a single suspect in all of the attacks?A The suspect description has been consistent: a black man with a stocky build, and either very short hair or a shaved head. Because the investigation is ongoing, police say it is too early to definitively conclude it was the same man in all of the attacks. Q What are police doing about this?A Police have boosted their presence in the area, Det. Kernohan said, and the local division has been alerted. Police were also planning a door-to-door canvass to ask local residents for assistance. “The residents have been excellent with speaking with police and speaking with each other, and we encourage that awareness,” Det. Kernohan said. Residents were advised to be aware of their surroundings at night and to contact police immediately if approached by a man fitting the suspect’s description. National Postgmcnaughton@nationalpost.com